This week’s casino news takes us on a tour around North America with stories in Las Vegas, British Columbia and Boston. We’ll start in Las Vegas where a couple of Caesars casinos could be up for sale.
Eldorado Merger Forces Caesars Entertainment’s Hand In Selling Strip Properties
Last month, Caesars Entertainment merged with Eldorado Resorts in a bid to create one of the biggest gambling companies in the United States. In light of that deal, Caesars Entertainment is now focused on selling a property or two on the Las Vegas strip in order to address any anticipated pushback from regulators that have concerns over them establishing a complete monopoly in the casino industry.
Eldorado CEO Thomas Reeg noted in a conference call last month that he expected the company to sell at least one property that is located on the strip. The owners of Treasure Island and the Golden Nugget Casinos are reportedly among the frontrunners to purchase one of those properties once they commit to move forward with a sale.
Phil Ruffin, who owns Treasure Island, noted that he could raise $1 billion USD in cash and more in financing in order to purchase the strip casino from Caesars Entertainment. We’ve also seen some issues in Atlantic City in this regard as the merged company now holds four of the nine casinos there too.
BC Woman Cashes In $2.1 Million Prize With Jackpot Win At Slots Machine
A B.C. woman named Marlyne Dumoulin cashed in a massive $2.1 million jackpot playing a $3 slot machine at the Treasure Cove Casino in Prince George. Dumoulin, who was visiting the casino with her husband at the time, initially thought she had won $2,100 at the machine. However, she wasn’t seeing quite right as her prize payout had a few more zeroes than that.
According to the B.C. Lottery Corporation, Dumoulin’s win is the largest ever Powerbucks progressive jackpot. After taking home that incredible prize, it’s no surprise that Dumoulin struggled with the range of emotions she was forced to deal with. After missing out on sleep and food for the most part in the days immediately following the win, Dumoulin arrived at a press conference for her win with bandaged fingers, which she admitted were a result of her biting her nails because of the stress that she was under. Hopefully she can find a way to relax once the money is deposited into her bank account.
Everett Casino Announces $4.2 Million In Tax Revenue In Opening Week
It didn’t take long for the Encore Boston Harbor to make a significant splash. In the first eight days since the casino opened, gamblers wagered more than $93.5 million on slot machines alone at the Everett Casino. The Wynn Resorts operation counted more than $16.79 million in total revenue, a number that breaks down to $2 million in revenue per day on average. More than half of the total revenue figures were generated by the casino’s slot machines, which produced $9.12 million.
After some uncertainty surrounding the timing of the $2.6 billion resort gambling palace opening, it’s clear that the Everett facility will have no problem living up to the hype as the next big Encore Boston Harbor gambling destination.